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For a workforce of individuals who are passionate about their jobs and good at them, it can sometimes be a smart move to take an unconventional approach to hiring.

That was one of the managerial takeaways Tuesday night during the 2016 Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces gala, an event honoring the highest-placing firms in the annual rankings of businesses with happy and contented employees.

The gala was attended by some 400 people at the Detroit Marriott Troy, including owners, managers and employees of the 15 firms that were recognized in the small, medium and large categories. The awards were the result of a nomination process and anonymous employee surveys conducted by the Free Press’s partner, Workplace Dynamics, a suburban Philadelphia-based employee research and consulting firm.

This year's panel discussion, led by Christopher Kirkpatrick, senior news director at the Free Press, probed the secrets to workplace success as observed by bosses at three top firms in the rankings: Real Estate One, Financial Services of America and the Zach Hart Agency in the life insurance business.

There was strong agreement that the best hires sometimes come with backgrounds in completely different businesses.

Richard James, president and CEO of Financial Services of America, said 95% of his company's hires haven't had directly related experience in the financial services industry, but came from professions as diverse as school teaching to car mechanics.

"We don't look for people in our industry," he said.

What these hires had in common was intelligence and a strong personal initiative.

“You surround yourself with good people, give them an opportunity to excel, show them the path to excel," James said.

The interview process at Financial Services of America is also unique, he explained.

“When we set up our interviews, what we don’t let them know is that when they walk into our building, the first person they’re going to meet is me," James said. He will then spend 45 minutes to an hour in a casual, get-to-know-you chat with the job seeker before the traditional rounds of interviewing happen in the building.

What's more, the interview process will happen in "reverse order," Hart said. Before asking applicants for details about themselves, Hart's team will explain the details of their business and business model, as well as what is expected of employees. That way, there are no unpleasant surprises for a new employee four weeks later.

“We teach them the hardest part of our business up front," Hart said. "Sometimes there are irregular hours, sometimes there’s weekend work, sometimes the fact that you’re going to leave before your kids are up from bed and you’ll get home sometimes once in awhile when they’re already sleeping.”

At Real Estate One, they look for a typically uncelebrated personal trait: worrying. The worrying, however, should be directed toward helping colleagues and serving clients.

“We try to hire people who are worriers," said Dan Elsea, the firm's president of brokerage services. "I like to see positive worrying that makes sense -- where they’re worrying about whoever they’re in charge of, that those individuals have got the best tools, the best environment and that they’re happy."